Kevin Darch reflects on first month as Barnstaple Town joint manager

Kevin Darch says he is enjoying his role as Barnstaple Town joint manager.

Darch, along with Dave Griffiths, have been appointed as joint managers at Barum until the end of the season after Richard Pears left the club in December.

Since taking over from Pears, a 3-1 home loss to Swindon Supermarine was followed by a battling point at Bideford in the north Devon derby, and Darch admits that not much has changed at Mill Road.

“I’m enjoying it,” he said. “Nothing’s really changed to be honest. I was enjoying it before when Richard (Pears) was there, but nothing changed.

“We’ve lost five or six lads, but the ones that have stayed have been brilliant to be honest. We were never far off in the first place, but we just need to maintain those levels and give another ten per cent, and I think results will start picking up.”

Barum’s home game against Mangotsfield Town on Saturday was called off.

“It’s that time of year isn’t it?” Darch said. “It’s frustrating especially after the Bideford game, we wanted it to be on, but it wasn’t to be, it was out of our hands so we can’t do a lot about it really.

“We were desperate for the game to be on really, we got a bit of confidence and we wanted to play as quickly as possible, but with the way the weather its, it just wasn’t to be.”

Town travel to Kidlington on Saturday, and Darch is expecting a tough game against a side he described as the best they have played this season.

“It going to be a tough game because I think they’re the best side we’ve played to be honest. We drew 3-3 at home, and they ripped us apart to be honest.

“I think they’ve only lost one at home as well, so it’s going to be really tough up there, but we’ve got to give it our best shot.”

With some players leaving Barum over the festive period, Darch says they are always looking to bring new faces to the club.

He said: “We’re always looking. We’re quite happy with the lads we’ve got, but like anything, if better players come along, we’ll be happy to chat to them. We want to be the best we can be at the end of the day.”